Tiger Woods Uses His Trusty Putter in first round of 2024 PGA Championship
Louisville, Ky. — Tiger Woods made his competitive return to the golf course Thursday morning at the 2024 PGA Championship after his last-place finish at the 2024 Masters, and the rust showed early.
Starting with a shaky performance off the 10th tee on the back nine, including several clutch par saves, Woods briefly found his form on the front nine before struggling towards the end, finishing with an opening-round 1-over 72 at Valhalla Golf Club. A four-time PGA Championship winner in 25 previous appearances, Woods claimed victory at Valhalla in 2000 but missed the cut in 2014.
“I am definitely getting stronger. However, I haven’t played many competitive rounds,” Woods commented on Thursday. “Since the Masters, this is my first tournament. So it’s a different challenge compared to playing casually at home on a flat Florida course.”
Starting on the par-5 10th hole, Woods missed a birdie opportunity and faced challenges navigating Valhalla’s penalizing rough, especially after three days of rain leading up to the first round. He experienced this firsthand on the par-3 11th, where a wayward shot led to a bogey.
Despite setbacks, Woods rallied with a birdie on No. 13, only to give it back on No. 15. He then battled through the remaining holes of the front nine, struggling with his putter but managing to finish the turn at 1-over 37.
“It took me a few holes to get back into the competitive rhythm and adjust to the conditions,” Woods explained. “These are factors I usually adapt to quickly, but today it took me a bit longer.”
Woods continued to navigate the course, securing another birdie on the par-3 3rd hole. However, missed opportunities on Nos. 4 and 5 and consecutive bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9 added to his 1-over round.
“My putting let me down on the last two holes. I made some mistakes with the speed,” Woods noted. “But I’m confident in my ability to hit the required shots; it’s just a matter of managing my physical condition over the 72 holes.”
Valhalla’s challenging terrain, coupled with forecasted rain, poses a significant test for Woods and his surgically repaired leg. Despite this, he remains optimistic about his game as he prepares for Friday’s round alongside Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott.
